title: Receptors involved in the antinociception of intrathecal melatonin in formalin test of rats.
abstract: The authors examined the antinociceptive effect of melatonin in a nociceptive state and investigated a possible interaction with adrenergic or cholinergic receptors underlying this effect at the spinal level. Nociception was induced by a subcutaneous injection of 50 μl of a 5% formalin solution to the hindpaw of male Sprague-Dawley rats. The reversal effects of alpha-1 adrenoceptor antagonist (prazosin), alpha-2 adrenoceptor antagonist (yohimbine), muscarinic receptor antagonist (atropine) and nicotinic receptor antagonist (mecamylamine) on the activity of melatonin were assessed. Intrathecal melatonin reduced the flinching response during phase 1 and phase 2 in the formalin test. Intrathecal prazosin, yohimbine, atropine and mecamylamine increased the attenuating flinching response in both phases observed by intrathecal melatonin. Collectively, the present data suggest that intrathecal melatonin attenuates the facilitated state and acute pain evoked by formalin injection. Furthermore, the antinociception of melatonin is mediated through the alpha-1 adrenoceptor, alpha-2 adrenoceptor, muscarinic and nicotinic receptors in the spinal cord.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Chonnam National University, Medical School, 8 Hakdong, Donggu, Gwangju 501-757, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Dong Jin
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Shin
authors.forename: Chul Won
authors.initials: CW
authors.lastname: Jeong
authors.forename: Seong Heon
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Myung Ha
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Yoon
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002492:Central Nervous System Depressants / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005557:Formaldehyde / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000633:toxicity; D007278:Injections, Spinal; D007509:Irritants / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000633:toxicity; D008297:Male; D008550:Melatonin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010146:Pain / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000378:metabolism*; D010147:Pain Measurement; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D018340:Receptors, Adrenergic, alpha-1 / Q000378:metabolism; D018341:Receptors, Adrenergic, alpha-2 / Q000378:metabolism; D011976:Receptors, Muscarinic / Q000378:metabolism; D011978:Receptors, Nicotinic / Q000378:metabolism; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D002492:Central Nervous System Depressants; D007509:Irritants; D018340:Receptors, Adrenergic, alpha-1; D018341:Receptors, Adrenergic, alpha-2; D011976:Receptors, Muscarinic; D011978:Receptors, Nicotinic; D005557:Formaldehyde; D008550:Melatonin